Typewriting machine



Dec. 8, 1925. 1,564,326

Y s. COLLINS TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 27, 1923 Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL COLLINS, OF PHILADELPHIA; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed August 27, 1923. Serial No. 659,437.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CoLnINs, a citizen of the United States, resldlng in Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to devices for holding or controlling cards, labels and other work-pieces in a typewriting machine; and more particularly to devices for keeping such work-pieces snugly to the platen at the printing line to prevent blurring and other imperfect type-impressions which, in the absence of such a device, may be caused by a springing of the work-piece from the platen at the printing line, due to the stiffness of the work-piece, when the same is a card, or

to the insuiiicient surface which a workpiece, such as a label, may offer to the ordinary paper-fingers or clips. For much of the. work that may be done on a typewriting machine, a device of the character mentioned may be unnecessary, and consequently it is desirable that such a device be a detachable accessory, rather that a permanent feature, of the machine.

' The device of the present invention, in the preferred form thereof, may be attachable to, and removable from, the machine without the use of tools or the aid of a mechanic; it requires no adjusting, tightening or loosening of parts, either in placement or removal; it is self-adjusting in the act of placing the same upon the machine; it may be positioned by a mere push, and removed by a mere pull; and it requires no modification of, or parts added to, the structure of standard machines to adapt such machines to the use of the device thereon. The device of the present invention is preferably so designed that it may be supported upon and held in place by the paper-finger rod commonly found on the platen-frame of standard machines.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings. I

Figure 1 is a front perspective, showing the clip of the present invention in elfective position, with respect to the platen, on the platen-frame of a front-strike typewriting machine; a card being shown in typing position on the platen.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly cross-sectional, of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; the card being shown on the platen in its Figure 1 position, and a typebar being indicated in position to strike on the front of the platen. I

Figure 3 is view similar to Figure 1, except that the card is shown as having been fed forward until it is clear of the feed-rolls, and is held at its lower edge by the usual wing-scale; the card being also indicated in dotted lines in the position assumed by it after typing has been completed, and in a position to permit its withdrawal from the platen by a pull on the rear edge thereof.v

Figure 4 is a view of the clip in central cross-sectional elevation, showing therefore one-half only thereof. I

A platen 10 is fixed to an axle 11 journaled for rotary movement in side plates 12 of the platen-frame. Fixed to each end of the platen-axle is a hand-wheel 13 for effectiug rotary movement of the platen; and on the left-hand end of the platen-frame is shown part of a line-spacing mechanism 14, such as is found on the Underwood Standard typewriting machine, and which co-operates with a ratchet-wheel, not shown, fast on the platen-axle, for effecting linespace feed of the platen.

The platen-frame also carries the usual paper-shelf 15 and apron 16 for guiding work-pieces down behind and around the platen to the front thereof, where the same are guided upward across the printing line, which latter is at the position indicated by the upper edge ofthe Wing-scale 17, see Figure 3. In Figure 2, a type-bar 18 is shown as having been swung up to a position to strike upon the front face of the platen. The usual front and rear pressure rolls 19 and 20 are shown as in engagement with the platen for causing the work-pieces to feed with the latter. Connecting the side plates 12 of the platen-frame, and fixed against rotation on the latter, is the usual paper-finger rod 21 on whichfpaper-fingers 22 are sup ported. These fingers have the well-known function of holding the ordinary worksheets to the platen above the printing line.

The clip 23 of the present invention is shown as detachably set upon the paperfinger rod 21. This clip comprises a pair of sheet-metal tongues 24 and 25 which are preferably resilient. In the effective or working position of the clip, the tongue 24 is shown as curved over. the top of the platen and as having its distal end 26 at the front of the platen over the printing line. The tongue 24 is shown as having a portion 27 thereof bearing upon the upper face of the platen, and curved substantially to the curvature of the platen. Forward of the portion 27, however, the tongue 24 is shown as offset at 28 from the surface of the platen to, form with the surface of the platen a threat 29 into which the leading edge of the card may be passed by forward feed of the platen, and by means .of which the card may be deflected rearward around the platen and held to the platen. by the tongue 24 in such manner as to be caused to set snugly against the platen at the printing line. The other tongue 25 is shown as curved downward around the rear of the platen and as bearing against the platen at 30, so that the card, after being directed around the top of the platen by the tongue 24, is directed by the latter to the tongue 25 and thence down around behind the platen (in event the card is of sufficient length), so that the card may not strike the paper-shelf 15 and have its feed obstructed by the latter.

The tongues 24 and 25, which are in the form of a pair of fingers or jaws, have their proximate ends 31 offset parallel to each other from their curved portions. The up per ends 34 of the tongues 24 and 25 pass 7 through the split 32 of a split cylinder 33,

the latter being preferably made of spring steel; and the ends of the tongues are curled at 34 to bear against the interior face of the split cylinder and to prevent accidental withdrawal or displacement of the tongues from the cylinder. The tongues may be inserted into the cylinder by sliding the same longitudinally through the ends thereof. It will be noted that the ends 35 of the cylinder, forming the edge of the split,bear against the parallel portions of the proximate ends 31 of the tongues. The tension of the spring is such as to cause the latter to urge the tongues toward each other; that is to say, to close the jaw formed by the tongues. Passed through the split 32 and inengagement with the inner surface of the parallel portions 31 of the tongues are a pair of finger-plates 36. These plates are extended in the form of fingerpieces 37 through slots 38 in the split cylinder 33, so that, by pressing together the upper ends 33 of the finger-pieces 37, the split cylinder may be expanded against the tension thereof by the pressure of the plates 36 against the tongues 24 and 25, and the latter thereby moved apart.

In placing the device in position, it is forced down so that one of tne tongues and oneof the plates 36 pass to each side of the paper-finger being preferably rod; the finger-pieces 37 pressed together at this time to facilitate the passage of the device over the rod 21. When the device has been moved to the desired position, the fingerpieces 37 are released. The tongue 25 by reason of the engagement thereof with the rear of the platen is prevented from further forward movement, and this determines the pioper setting of the tongue 24 when the finger-pieces 37 are released. It will.

with the platen. In the position of the card as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower portion-of the card is hold to the platenby the feed-rolls 19 and 20. As the typing on the card progresses and the card is linespaced forward with the platen, the rear edge 42 of the card may be fed clear of the pressure rolls, as indicated in Figure 3, and be held to the platen by the wing-scale 17, so that writing may be stilletfected upon the card and at the extreme end portion of the sa1ne,'if desired. Also, as indicated in Figure 3, it will be noted that during this forward feed of the card the leading edge 41 thereof has been passed from the tongue 24 to the tongue 25, and by the latter turned downward around the rear face of the platen. A further forward feed of the cardfrom the full-line, Figure 3, position to the dotted-line, Figure 3, position results in the end 42 of the card being cleared from the wing-scale 17. When thus cleared from the wing-scale, the rear end 42 of" the card is shown as having sprung forward to such a position as to permit it to be grasped by the operator for a downward pull on the card, which will move it in reverse direction with the platen until it is clear of the tongue 24 and out of the machine.

Figure 1 shows that the tongue 25 may be moved laterally on the rod 21 in order to adjust it for use with cards of varying widths.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a detachable card holder for type; writing machines, the combination of a. split sheet-metal cylinder, preferably made of spring steel, a pair of sheet-metal tongues shaped to fit the surface of the platen of a typewriting machine, and a pair of fingerplates, said tongues being placed facing each other in the split cylinder and held in position by the insertion of the finger-plates passed through separate slots in the split cylinder, andarranged and shaped to grip the paper-finger rod of a typewriting machine for the purpose specified.

2. In a detachable card-holder for typewriting machines, the combination of a split sheet-metal cylinder, a. pair of sheet-metal tongues shaped to fit the surface of the platen of a typewriting machine, and a pair of finger-plates, said tongues having their upper ends curved to conform to the inner surface of said split cylinder, said parts being gssiambled as described for the purpose speci- 8. In a. detachable card-holder for typewriting machines, the combination of a split sheet-metal cylinder, a pair of sheet-metal tongues, and a pair of finger-plates; said tongues having their upper edges curved to conform to the inner surface of said split cylinder; the lower portion of the rear tongue being curved to fit the surface of a typewriting machine platen; the lower portion of the front tongue being curved outward away from the surface of said platen to form a throat to receive'and direct against the platen the leading edge of a work-piece; said parts being assembled as described for the purpose specified.

4. In a detachable card-holder for typewriting machines, the combination of a split sheet-metal cylinder, a pair of sheet-metal tongues, and a pair of finger-plates; the lower portion of the front tongue being curved outward away from the surface of the platen of a typewriting machine; and the proximate upper end of the rear tongue being curved towards the platen to guide the work around the platen; said parts being assembled as described for the purpose specified.

5. In a detachable card-holder for typewriting machines, the combination of a split sheet-metal cylinder, a pair of curved sheetmetal tongues, and a pair of finger-plates; said split cylinder being arranged to serve as a spring to force towards each other the lower ends of said tongues, and to force together the lower ends of said finger-plates, so as tograsp a rod on a typewriting machine carriage; said parts being assembled as described for the purpose specified.

6. In a detachable card-holder for typewriting machines, the combination of a split sheet-metal cylinder, a pair of curved sheetmetal tongues, and a pair of sheet-metal finger-plates; the lower ends of said fingerplates being bent, so as to grip the paperfinger rod of a typewriting machine; said parts being assembled as described for the purpose specified.

7. In a detachable card-holder for typewriting machines, the combination of a split sheet-metal cylinder, a pair of curved sheetmetal tongues, and a pair of sheet-metal finger-plates, the lower ends of said fingerplates being bent, so as to grip the paperfinger rod of a typewriting machine, and the upper ends of said finger-plates projecting through separate slots in said split cylinder and so arranged that the pressing together of said upper ends will separate the lower ends of both the finger-plates and the tongues, thereby releasing the hold of the finger-plates upon the paper-finger rod of a typewriting machine; said parts being assembled as described for the purpose specified.

8. In a detachable card-holder for typewriting machines, the combination of a split sheet-metal cylinder arranged to act as a spring; a pair of sheet-metal tongues whose upper ends are bent to fit the inner surface of said split cylinder and whose lower ends are bent to conform to the surface of a typewriting machine platen, with curved portions to serve as throats for guiding a workpiece; and a pair of finger-plates whose lower ends are bent to grasp a rod on a typewriting machine carriage when forced together by said spring and whose upper ends are arranged to serve as finger-levers which,

when pressed together, will release said rod.

SAMUEL COLLINS. 

